Back on the Wagon

I'm back on the wagon, albeit a very creaky, rickety wagon.  PT John gave me the "OK" to try running again.  I've run 5 minutes the past 8 out of 10 days. (Actually, I added another 5 minutes yesterday...) Slow. Awkward.  It's ok in that I haven't experienced any additional swelling out of it.  I'm a bit stiff in the mornings, but no real pain.  Only one day, on an indoor track (as opposed to outside on a flat field) did I encounter a flash of moving pain, enough to cause me to stop before my 5-minute indulgence.  I'm guessing a tight plantar fascia, so I am back to wearing my Strassburg Sock at night.   It's helping.  I also feel like I am still dropping my right hip.  I will further discuss this with PT John.  If anyone has suggestions to that, let me know.

I'm still continuing the hot/cold bath.  I've added strengthening exercises-- one-legged balancing while picking up scattered objects (a variation on the childhood games of 52 pick-up or pick-up sticks) and squats on the upside down Bosu ball.

As I reflect on the last five months (and 2 days since surgery, but who's counting?)....and the last five years..... I am walking without pain.  I am able to stand all day (teaching) without pain and swelling.   It seems that the surgery has helped these symptoms; however, I am still facing the compensations of the last five years.  Non-runners probably don't understand why I keep struggling, running.  I've always felt that anyone can run, no real skills needed; it's the mental game that must be overcome.  The confidence that I can, and I will. It is, by far, the greatest tool in my arsenal for confidence.  That is why I keep struggling, trying to persevere, overcome.

My running friend, Steph, posted an article from The Wall Street Journal, OK, You're a Runner. Get Over It.  on her Facebook page.  Hilarious.  I mostly love the comments from her FB friends condemning this guy as "a very angry jerk."  For us longtime runners, we run because we  love it -- it defines us in a sense, and I think that is why I find this commentary funny, as opposed to cranky.  Worth the read.

TWISTED

It's been a month since my last posting and unfortunately I do not have a ton of awesome news.  After being pink slipped and trying to run on my own, I noticed a feeling of being off-balance.  I truly had a pitter-patter, rather than a pitter pitter or a patter patter.  So I finally connected with a local PT who has helped quite a few other athletes, mainly runners.  He was unavailable during my initial search and is currently not covered under my insurance.  However.... as I tell those who will listen, I will either be running soon, or broke.

He is PT number 5 since this entire ordeal started many years ago, and he is the first who listened to the symptoms as opposed to the "issue" and he wrote things down.  His diagnosis?  My imbalance is real.  My right leg is shorter by about 4 mm (all you minimalist know how big that is) as a result of my right lower back being out of sync (socket...layman terms here; I'm an ESL teacher, not a doctor) which in turn causes my pelvic bone to be twisted.  Additionally, the tightness in my peroneal tendon is because it can't move freely up and down (aliken it to a bicycle pump where the pump can not move up and down smoothly because it is corroded).  Validated and depressed, were my feelings the next week or so, and it really took me a while to dig myself out.

So four weeks later, and I see the new guy again tomorrow, third time.  I am not completely sure my gait is even.  I have been fast-walking, which doesn't "count" enough to make it into my workout log, and not running, yet.  I have been continuing the steamboats, single -foot balances, and squats with a weight.  I can finally say that my squats are getting lower (how low can you go?) and that peroneal tendon is maybe (fingers crossed) loosening up.

So that is my news.  I am still positive about this surgery, although I am still not running.  This is certainly an Odysseus-like epic journey.  However, I do know that I truly tried everything before undergoing surgery.  I promise to update tomorrow if there is any new news.  Cross your fingers for me.  Just a little superstitious when it comes to running.

PINK SLIP

Last Tuesday, my PT gave me the pink slip.  Luckily he's a Facebook friend, so I may still harass him.  I've met some very good people on my journey.  Wish I had met them in other ways, but alas, that was not to be.

Since being fired, I have tried running every other day or so for about 10 minutes.  I do this while walking the dog, Atticus, a white lab who has become a bit marshmellow-like.  So we run together (hopefully he doesn't think I am marshmellow-like).  After warming up by walking, we run about 2 minutes, then walk.  So I am running about 2 of every 5 minutes.  I have no rhyme or reason for doing this, but this liberal girl is really trying to be conservative.  Results?  It's always about the end result.  My ankle is beginning to swell (just a little).  My thought is that it is just a response to new activity...like when I started teaching on my feet all day after a summer of (not by choice) being a couch potato.  So I am not yet worried.  If things don't clear up in the next week or so, I will email my doc...or my PT.  How good is that? Not as good as running, but.

Cold Turkey

So my PT made me run again Tuesday.  On the treadmill.  For 3 minutes.  And it was ok.  Even so the next day.  So today, while walking my dog, I ran off and on, for about 3-4 minutes.  As always, tomorrow will tell.  My PT is about ready to cut me off.  Cold turkey.

I've been reading Out of the Dust with my ELL students and the main character, a piano playing adolescent in the 1930s during the dust storms, tries to play the piano again after her hands have been burned by a freak accident.  She is told to play through the pain to stretch her fingers and skin, to heal.  Text to Self: it is time to run, and stretch through my pain to regain my strength.  My biggest hurdles are deciphering bad pain versus healing pain, running when I am not fast, not being able to pick up where I left off.  Another way to look at it, more positively, running can become my new crush (again).  Those short, quick glimpses that set your heart racing...I'm ready to fall head over heels, again.

School Dayz Blues

Back at school teaching.  This unfortunately coincided with my first attempts at running.  Certainly not a good mix.  I've decided to stop running for a little while.  Month?  Two?  Because I am on my feet most of the day-- there's really no way around it-- and the floors are concrete, the bottom of my heel hurts enough that my brain tells my body not to get up, let alone walk.  For the past week, I have been wearing my Dansko or Chaco sandals.  Not the minimalist shoes that I know and love; however, I need some sort of buffer between my heel and the floor.  Neither shoe has much arch support, so I tell myself and this somehow justifies it in my mind--I've become such the barefoot shoe snob (coffee snob...beer snob, but not snob all by itself). Truth be told, I used to walk to my college classes barefoot.  I went to a small liberal arts, hippie, Quaker school.  Anyway, I am beginning to feel like I can walk around barefoot a little bit, so I am hopeful to be back in my Fivefingers soon.  My PT is not worried, so I am working at not being worried.

Update on my current at home exercises:
1. 100 calf raises (still splitting these up, about 30 per time)
2. calf stretches
3. steamboats (these involve a a couch leg, stretchy tubing/tape tied around couch leg, or if at work, desk leg.  In fact I have 1 at work and two at home, upstairs and downstairs)
4. single leg balance with my 8 year old throwing something at me to catch, usually a stuffed hippo named Hippie

I work to do these twice per day, minimum.

So everyday require motivation to the ultimate goal.  Life certainly gets in the way, and it isn't always easy.  I see the PT once per week as it keeps me honest, and Dr. Nick checks in periodically via email.  I'm walking the dog and can walk the 1/2 mile into town without any trouble.  This in itself is progress.

MY "FIRST"

I took the plunge.  Yesterday after spinning on the trainer for 45 dizzy minutes, I decided to go downstairs and try to run on the treadmill.  I ran barefoot.  3 minutes.  About a 14 minute pace (It's not about speed....yet).  Pain?  No, not really.  Some slight throbbing of the Achilles, but seriously, I no longer trust myself to rate pain on a scale of 1-10, and quite honestly I have difficulty distinguishing from the heel bone and the Achilles.  I do feel the bone, and my guess-- after talking to others who have broken a bone, had bone surgery, lost part of a bone-- they still feel the bone afterwards for quite awhile.  It's not painful, but rather a constant reminder.  A few hours later I could feel my ankle/heel area stiffening up, so I went on a bike ride with my 8-year old.  Not as easy as you might like to think.  He, like his father, is a risk-taker. So we rode a lot of over-grown trails and then up a nice steep hill (on the road).  It did, however, loosen me up.  BTW, I wore my Trek Sport Fivefingers.

Fast-forward to today, a morning that was no different than any other morning since I've been on my feet post surgery.  I rode Phat Shirley out to my favorite horse trails (Infirmary Park), rode around, and then rode home.  About 16 miles.  The nice aspect of cycling is it really requires me to ride evenly on both sides.  No gimping around allowed.  And again, with Phat Shirley, speed doesn't matter.  Courage matters, which I am slowly regaining.  I do a lot of thinking out on the trails, be it running or cycling, and it never fails to amaze me how my self-perception and self-confidence is intrinsically tied to running.  If I liked tattoos, mine would say "I'd rather be running" or, since I seem to lack courage at the moment, a license plate that says, "My other car is my running shoes." Courage.

Anyway, when I returned home, I stretched, hopped on the treadmill for (get ready...) 4! minutes at a slightly faster clip.  Barefoot.  Again, I am slowly regaining the courage.

New Ideas

So this week, my regular PT, Mark, is in Honduras in a missionary capacity.  In his absence, Chris is filling in. I find it interesting to observe differences in a PTs approach.  First, some history. While no longer a runner, I discovered that Chris is more into lifting (yep, he works out. 1 point)  It also came about that in his previous position (he recently moved to the area-- this weekend), he wore FiveFingers.  A minimalist (2 points).  Now, don't get me wrong, Mark has been more than capable, but as I said in an earlier post, I have become quite the snob when it comes to choosing physicians.  So Chris asked about my history.  How much did I used to run... Have I ever sprained my ankle...He also added some new, tremendously difficult/exhausting exercises.  (more about those later)  When he had me on the table, he noticed that my ankle was locking up in the dorsiflexion position, suggesting that with ankle sprains (multiple in my case), the ankle can become jammed.  So he un-jammed that.  Then he asked about my scar, and if it ever caused discomfort. Yes, in fact, it does, especially when my ankle swells at the end of the day and becomes rather lumpy.  So he worked on that and suggested Vitamin E lotion (or oil is ok since I already have that) rubbed into the scar area to break up the tissue and help the redness to go away.  Interesting. I just think it is good to have different perspectives, and I liked how he looked outside the box.

So, some new exercises.
1. Standing on right foot (surgery foot), on a piece of blue foam, slowly twist the upper torso to the right, back to center, and to the left.  I managed 5 times each position.

2. Standing on same piece of foam, on right foot, stretch torso out in front, raising left leg parallel to floor.  Slowly move back to original position.  Then to the right and to the left.  I managed 5 times in each position.

I will certainly practice these at home, without the lovely blue foam- mostly because I don't have it.

3. He added some toes curls as well.  Not sure if I can explain them, but here goes.  Sitting (notice I have very few sitting-on-my-ass- exercises anymore), pull right knee up, with foot flat on floor.  Put a finger under the 1st metatarsal and hold down while curling toes.  This is much like the scrunching of the toes on the towel stretch.  This is to work to build strength in the arch and provide a better foundation when running.  If you had a chance to read one of the latest postings on Dr. Nick's blog, you'll see the correlation.  If not, here's the link: http://www.drnicksrunningblog.com/category/running-shoes-2/

Lots of food for thought.

Plateau

After my Phat Shirley ride, I was really (really!) worried again about the plantar fasciitis.  The rest of the evening my heel hurt to put any weight on it.  I cursed myself for pushing harder than I needed and wearing minimal shoes on the bike.  I decided not to wear cycling shoes because the shoe is so incredibly stiff.  Anyway, I was afraid to get up the next morning, but miraculously...my heel didn't hurt anymore. Seriously.

Since then, I am up to about 30 calf raises at a time.  I think today I will easily hit 100.  I just returned from a family vacation at the beach.  Our first day, we walked to a pier that ended up being 1.7 miles away...no wonder my kids were tired. They compared it to walking on a treadmill to nowhere.  I'm still experiencing a lot of on and off swelling.  It usually occurs in the evening and is gone the next morning.  It does inhibit my flexibility.  So I ice.

Some days, I really feel positive about running again...soon.  Other days....

Phat Shirley

Today marks two mini-milestones.

One: I have worked my way up to 10 calf raises at a time (from 3).  Still working to get 100 in in a day. Quality over quantity.

Two: My husband returned home today from State College after racing the Wilderness 101.  After a loose headset (don't ask as I don't know) and two flat tires, he finished an hour longer than his pace might have suggested.  Moral: running requires no added equipment and had he been running a marathon, he would have certainly PRed.  I am proud and green with envy.  Anyway, he encouraged me to get Phat Shirley out and go for a spin.  In fact, he went with me. That's how cool he is.  Phat Shirley is my fat tire Surly bicycle built for snow.  Her tires are easily the width of 4 road bike tires, and I wouldn't be surprised if one of her tires was equal to the full weight of a road bike.  We did a simple ride down to the bike path, completing 8+ miles without incident.  I even managed to get my heart rate over 130 for part of the ride.  No swelling immediately after the ride.

 Phat Shirley resting at Infirmary Mound Park-- one of my favorite places to ride and run.

Last December in State College.  My first snow ride.

6 Weeks Post-Surgery

I've been emotionally short-circuited lately.  I surf the web through Joe's New Balance Warehouse, pining for shoes I don't need -- mostly because I've already acquired them.  I long to talk running, but have little to add since ... I can hardly remember, as I try to get my brain to signal to my foot that it can, indeed, walk down those stairs without hurting.  My poor husband doesn't know what to do with me sometimes when I break into spontaneous bursts of silent tears.  Fortunately a spin in my living room or a jog through the swimming pool help to break me out of my destitution.  I think I would be a perfect subject for research of running withdrawal.  I keep thinking that scientists surely must be able to develop a 10-mile-run endorphin pill.  You might wonder how this seemingly diatribe came about?

Yesterday was my 6 week post-surgery check-up.  Dr. Nick doesn't think I should start running yet, and while I was expecting this response, it doesn't necessarily make it easier to accept. The goal is to be able to jump up and down on my foot.  So the question became do I feel any pain?  It is very hard for me to discriminate pain and pain level, and, at the appointment, I didn't give a very clear response because I just didn't know.  Hence, return to my analogy of being short-circuited.  Convincing my brain that I can may quite likely be the majority of the battle back.  Nick has some fancy word for it that I don't recall at the moment.  In order to get past this, Dr. Nick added a few strengthening exercises which I will add to my previously updated exercise list.  One exercise is 100 calf raises per day.  Seems both daunting-- for the high number,  and not-- as it's only a calf raise, but trying these at home...??? ouch! I will need to work up to 100 on 1 foot.  The other exercise is balancing on my foot and bouncing a ball off the wall.  My husband plans on posting this on YouTube as it should be extremely entertaining.  TBA and most likely Rate R for Language.

Fast forward to today's workout at the pool and on the treadmill.  At the pool, I did a little walking/jogging in the shallow 3 foot section for about 15 minutes before heading over to the diving well to do more aerobically challenging water running.  I had slight discomfort in the heel while in the shallow area, but perhaps a sign of actually working the foot instead of allowing my body to compensate.  Deep water running gives me the benefit of weightlessness and the ability to move my legs without a feeling like something isn't working correctly.  On the other hand, my walk on the treadmill was no walk in the woods, literally or figuratively.   I feel the treadmill is the best gauge for me as to whether or not I am walking consistently with good form.  I walked for 15 minutes and had to give 110% concentration to my form, and even then I don't know if I am walking correctly. I have a mirror set up so I can watch how my knees bed and my feet hit.  I also rely a lot on feel.  I am barefoot, by the way.  I realize that I do have pain in my heel, but it is seems to be more overall as opposed to the vice grip feeling from before surgery.  I then followed up with "the exercises" and 25 of my 100 calf raises.  I was not able to do all 25 on only one foot-- I don't have the strength and, yes, it does hurt. So this is my story after 6 weeks.  I have a ways to go.  Did the surgery work?  I don't know yet.  Do I have any regrets?  Absolutely not.  As I tell my kids, nothing worth having is easy.

Week Four

After freaking out last Friday about a shooting pain up through my heel as I was performing a weight bearing exercise, I've calmed a bit.  Apparently the plantar fascia also needs to stretch itself back out.  I was certainly prepared for the deepest of pain from bone surgery, but certainly not the loss of flexibility and ability to do normal tasks.  It's harder than one might think to  just sit on my ass all day/most of the day.  While my heart wants to walk out that door and go for a run (despite the 90+ degree temps and high humidity and burning sun-- who cares about that?), my brain is not quite ready.  People have asked me if I think the surgery has worked, but I won't really know until I try to run again.

So an update.  I have progressed to new exercises.  I'm dropping the pillow pushes for the Bosu ball and I'm adding some strengthening exercises.  Interestingly enough, these are all exercises I can do while watching TV and, yep, you guessed it, sitting on my ass.

I am, however, about out of the boot.  Yesterday I walked (slowly) around without boot or crutches for most of the morning and then used a crutch for running some errands. I am wearing a shoe at all times-- usually a pair of Five Fingers-- as we have no carpert in our house. Today is mostly the same.  I need to do some chores, so I may end up putting the boot back on.  Patience.

Physical Therapy

My first visit to the PT was fine.  He took measurements and explained everything he was doing/wanted me to do.  My flexibility is obviously non-existent.  My dorsiflexion (the angle of the dorsum of the foot and the leg) is 0 degrees.  It should be about 20 degrees.

Here is an interesting article about testing your dorsiflexion: http://www.runforyourlife.com.au/articles-news-races/injury-prevention/200-dorsiflexion.html

The PT gave me four specific exercises to work on until my next appointment.  I do these 3 times a day, 10 reps each, except the ABCs.

1. ABCs with toe pointed (slowly)
2. calf stretch with a strap (a static stretch, which is apparently ok after an injury)
3. toe scrunches with a towel on the floor (in fact, I have been doing this one with both feet as I noticed my "good" side wasn't really all that great)
4. pillow pushes, where I load full-foot pressure on a pillow for a 6-count

After 3 days, I am already noticing a difference.  In fact, yesterday, my husband brought my bicycle upstairs and put it on the trainer so that I could spin while watching the Tour de France.  I  did 30 minutes and I think I averaged about 3 mph-- perhaps it was the big climbs through the Pyrenees-- but it was more a chance to start loosening everything up.  No polka-dotted or yellow jersey for me.

I think I was prepared for the pain of surgery-- which I never really experienced-- but not so prepared for the muscle loss and tightness of muscles and ligaments.  The anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments and the posterior talofibular ligament cause most of my discomfort, as does my calf muscle.  At this point, I am glad that Dr. Nick strongly encouraged PT as it will keep me focused on what I really need to work on to get out of this boot and back to running.


Ankle joint anatomy:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1946201-overview

Weight-bearing Blues

Yesterday I was allowed to start weight-bearing.  For some reason I had it in my mind that I could put full weight down and at least walk across the room.  Imagine my surprise when this wasn't the case.  You may as well have pulled a bag over my head, tied my hands behind my back, spun me around, and thrown me in a rubber room.  Not completely sure what I was thinking; however, this cloud of dependency is the pittiest of pits -- pit in terms of a deep, dark hole, as opposed to pity.  This experience has been humbling to say the least.  Having to ask for help, well, let's just say that I am not very good at it.  But this not being able to endure the pain, well, just makes me feel weak.  

Word to the not-so-wise and the wise, make sure to plan outings.  Right after scheduling my surgery, my friends emailed me that Jackson Browne was coming to town.  So after getting the ok from Dr. Nick, I purchased a ticket. My two concert peeps took great care of me, as did many strangers who held open doors (bathroom doors are not so easy) and we did a night on the town.  A couple of gin and tonics and some really great music (I refrained from shouting out Neil Young songs) and I can now admit that I've clawed my way out of yet another pit of depression.  Not so easy when I usually go for a run to keep me emotionally healthy.  Another reason I am indulging myself with a blog.

So today has been a better day.  I find myself today sitting on my front porch watching the traffic go by, listening in to walkers' phone conversations -not my fault.  I hear them coming like a shod runner pounding the pavement.  Literally.  My front porch has been a revolving door of visitors.  Of course my parents have been here. Then my friend Joan, who just returned from Austria after 3 plus weeks, stopped by to chat.  Next came Adele and John with babycakes, Ainsley.  They just returned from Monaco and Rome.  It's great to have the world travellers back and on my front porch.  I simply love small town living.   So I will end here, on a good note.  Until next time....I will update after my first PT session.  

Post-op Appointment

I just realized I didn't post about my post-op appointment.  So I will do two separate postings.

My post-op visit went well.  You know, I finally feel like I have a doctor that gets it.  I know I've said this before, but finding a doctor who runs-- not a hobby jogger-- is huge for me.  Dr Nick is optimistic without the sugar-coating and genuinely likes running.  And of course he is competent, but.  So the stitches came out.  I didn't watch as I am a big, fat scaredy-pants.  All looks good -- actually here is a picture 12 days out.

Some bruising on the other side, but when you see the surgery photos, you'll say "but of course..."

 Then Dr. Nick showed me pictures of surgery.  I'm a middle school teacher for a reason; however, these really aren't all that gory.  But you have been warned.

 Instrument on the left is holding back the Achilles tendon.  I was lucky that Dr. Nick did not have to detach any of the Achilles tendon.

Bone and irritated (and irritating) bursa sac removed.  Look at all that room!

Bone and bursa sac.  Seriously, I can't believe I put up with that for 5 years.  It's like a pebble..no, a rock, in your shoe that you can't take out, and it just rubs...and rubs.. and rubs...

So I need to find a PT (ugh!) and I can start weight-bearing on Friday (yesterday)!!

Post Surgery

Ten days post surgery and I am doing well!  Tomorrow is my post surgery appointment.  Due to the 2-hour drive, Dr. N put me in a wrapped cast so that I wouldn't have to make a trip the normal 3 days after surgery.  This has worked for me as I have experienced to pain.  This is due to the nerve block I had prior to surgery.  If you've never experienced that before it's like a large novocain shot to the back of your knee.  I was unprepared mentally for the inability to move or feel my toes for 24 hours after surgery. I spent 3 full days on Vicodin before deciding that I didn't really need it.  Like I said, it works for me and I was more than happy to be off of any meds.  I spent first 3 days sleeping on a mattress downstairs as any type of stair felt like Mt. Everest-- daunting to say the least.

Anyway, below are before and after pictures of the surgery.  I think the after looks pretty sexy.

Tomorrow I have my follow-up appointment.  My expectations are 2: 1) the big, fat, ugly boot with a bit of weight-bearing, and 2) the ability to take a shower without a plastic bag over my foot.  I may actually cry if either one of those doesn't happen.

Other than that, I have been overly dependent on my family-- they are awesome and rock my world--and my girlfriends-- those who have taken care of me, texted me from across the Atlantic, or simply organized a ride so that I could get the hell out of the house (while my husband was on a 60 mile bike ride). I might add that I have wonderful graffiti on my cast and my toes....

Not sure how I forgot to mention that we made Haurache sandals.

My pre-op appointment went well (other than to extreme downpour on the 2-hour drive up).  Prognosis (best-case scenario) is that the Achilles will not need to be detached to get tot he haglund's.  I will be in a cast for 10 days to eliminate the extra drive up 3 days after surgery.  I'm certainly thankful for  my family helping out with kids, and my girlfriends who are covering the few days my husband will be out of town.  This will be a journey to say the least; hopefully, the grand finale to the journey.

Update on the Kayla 5K.  I did indeed run it last weekend.  My 9 (almost 10) year old daughter took off at an 8:35 first mile.  I honestly didn't think I still had it in me.  She finished at 30 minutes, with lots (and lots) of encouragement from me.  My 8-year son, who ran with his dad, finished in 29.30 or so.  A proud moment when they both received a trophy for their run.  At least two of the four of us placed.  Haven't run since, but hopeful that I can get a short one in today before surgery.  I am at the 2 days and counting.

Just an update to my running.  Early May, well May 4th, I had what I thought was a decent run.  However, the "day after syndrome" smacked me in the face-- or should I say Achilles?  After running 2 miles in 27 minutes (yeah, right?) I could barely walk the next day.  It seems there is no rhyme or reason to when the pain hits.  I cycled 25 miles the next day and things seemed to loosen up a bit.  I took the next three days off.  Then I started up again.  I ran in my sexy, pink Treksport Fivefingers.  I ran two days that week: a 2-miler and a 2.75-miler.  The next week, I ran 3 times, my 3rd run increased to 3 miles.  My next day syndrome hasn't really been a major issue since.  I'm not saying that I am good-to-go-no-pain.  If anything I am running slower (hence no pace time) but I can get in a little more mileage.  Just thought I'd share that. Oh and one more thing.  I am not great at being a consistent strength trainer; however, I have recommenced the free weights- quads and hamstrings and arms.  I've also included glut exercises.  Found these on naturalrunningcenter.com if you aren't familiar with that site.

I have 2 weeks from yesterday until surgery.  My hope is to continue to hang on, not gain much more weight, and running the "last" Kayla 5K (on the road a week from today) since I have run every Kayla 5K since inception-  about 1/2 pushing a babyjogger of up to 100+ pounds, I think was my last calculation.  That was before finally giving it up about 3 years ago.  

History

Imagine a vice grip.  Attach it to your bare heel. Tighten the vice grip just until it is  snug.  OK, give the screws one more full rotation.  Hurt?  Now, go for a run.

If this is you, perhaps we can help each other.  My search for answers and doctors and treatments has been a difficult journey, and if my story in any way helps others, then I have accomplished something.  Besides, this is cheaper than therapy.

My Recent History (2005-2012)

For about 8 years, I have run in and out of what my GPs (two of them) called Achilles Tendonitis.  I've taken weeks off, cross-trained, ingested NSAIDs, stretched, completed two separate 6-week stints at two different PTs, "suffered" through deep tissue massage, enjoyed osteopathic manipulative massage, and yes, I've iced. I've iced so much that my ice maker was getting a better workout than I was.

Specifically, it has been the last two years that I have had to drastically lower my mileage.  Two years ago I was able to train (balancing on a fence between remaining on the healthy side or falling off into the pain of defeat) for my third 1/2 marathon. I PRed at 1:33.33 (please allow me to rejoice in my past accomplishments). I might also add that I was only running 4 days per week, averaging 25 miles.  The other 2 days I was on my bicycle, and I gave myself a rest day. Since that October 1/2 marathon, however, I have rapidly fallen into running 2 days a week, averaging 4 miles -- total, on a good week.  On a scale of 1-10, a 9= running through tears. A 10 means I don't run. 

It is here you might ask why in the world do I continue to run?  My answer: it is the ONLY way I can curb any depression from not being able to run the way I have run for the last 38 years of my life. I can only liken it to a drug addict coming out of addiction.

I finally found my way to two different orthopedic doctors: Dr V and Dr. Q. I don't know why it took me so long. Disbelief? Denial? (classic signs of addiction) Within minutes, both identified my issue as Haglund's deformity.  I spent the next 8 weeks in a boot and went with Dr. Q because he was closer, and I figured what did it really matter? A boot is pretty non-technical. Nope. That didn't work either. Suffice it to say, it is extremely important to find good doctor. My criteria?  #1 a real RUNNER (not a hobby jogger).  #2 communicative and intelligent (Dr. V fit #2 but not #1).  Dr. Q, well, you can figure that one out for yourself.  At least I got an MRI.  

                                                              

Compare the heel bone.  Notice on the left foot, it is relatively smooth; whereas on the right heel bone, it tapers up into a point. This "spur" causes friction to my achilles when I move-- whether it is running or walking.  You can also see the bump that has formed on the back of the heel.  This is from inflamed bursa sacs.  

My Present (2013)

So as I bring you into my present state of being, such as it is on 4 miles a week, I have one last glimmer of hope.  I have found myself a doctor, Dr. N, who fits both my criteria.  My surgery is scheduled for June 14.  I will wait to attach links to him until 1) I gain permission and 2) I can relate positive news. 

Before scheduling my surgery, I have made an attempt at HR training.  At this point, I am too far gone. A part of me thinks that had I tried this 2 years ago, it may have been successful.  I pushed hard, close to race pace, whenever I ran.  So while I didn't do "track" speed work, I was in a sense doing speed work.  Here is a link if you want to find out more about HR training. (hmmm. can't get the link to work. just google his name)

Dr. Philip Maffetone. “The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing.” Skyhorse Publishing, 2011-02-15. 

I am new at this blogging thing, so as I gather up links and resources that have helped me along the way, I will add those as well.  Please feel free to send me comments. I especially crave those from runners who have found success.